Before you start reading this blog I want you to know that this is probably the most EXCITING blog I will be writing on this race but also the most TERRIFYING blog I will be writing on this race! I have prayed long and hard about how I wanted to share this with you, if I even wanted to share this with you and when would be the best time to share it with all of you! I want to make sure that what I share isn't from me. BUT ALL GOD! This is HIS plan and every day I feel more and more blessed that He has chosen me for this new adventure!
Even before I left for the race, the main questioned I was asked was "what are you going to be doing after you come home?" Even on the race, we are always asking each other, "so has God told you what you will be doing when you get home?" It's something that you cannot run from, and something that you think about 24/7!
I personally started really thinking about what I wanted to do back at home was when I was in Cambodia which was womenstry month. (The guys on the squad did ministry together and us ladies worked together) I have no desire or really want to go into something that is the normal 9 to 5 job, I don't want to fall in the same routine that I was stuck in before the race and most importantly I don't want to go back to teaching… so what else is there!?? The question just hung in the air and the girls I was living with started talking and thinking about our future but there was no answer!
One afternoon, three of my teammates and I went to a place called Open Arms. This is a place where you can get pedicures, manicures, massages, make-up done, your hair done, and so much more. It is owned by a lady from Australia and all the employees are girls who have gotten out of sex-trafficking. Now they are safe, have received education, a place to live, bible lessons, a place where they are loved and now a place they can earn money for their families. They are not known for what they use to do but who they are now! The girls are smiling, laughing and are safe!
As I was getting a pedicure, God decided to ROCK MY WORLD! I remembered that when I was in Thailand a friend of mine back at home told me about a lady who came to her church and told them about how sex-trafficking is becoming a huge problem in the States and Colorado is one of the leading places. I remembered that I was shocked because that is my home. I had heard of sex-trafficking happening in other countries and I was hoping that when we were in Thailand that we would do some kind of ministry in the bars. But I ended up working in a coffee house and ministering to college student; which I loved and was comfortable doing! I did think it was interesting that I went looking for a ministry that introduced me to the world of sex-trafficking and finding out that the ministry was in my own backyard.
THEN God decided to place on my heart: WHY COULDN'T THERE BE A PLACE LIKE THIS SALON IN COLORADO??? A place where women can be in a safe place, learn about Jesus and His unconditional love , find a job, get an education and be in a community where they are seen as who they are now and not what they use to do! WHAT IF I STARTED THIS PLACE?????? Wait – did I just think that! Yes I did – I could do that! I started getting really excited. I shared my idea from one of my teammates and I literally couldn't wait to start looking into everything. My heart was so full of joy!
We got into our tuk-tuk and started the 30 minute ride home and as soon as the driver took off, Satan started attacking me in full swing! What was I thinking? How was I going to know where to look and even get started? I know nothing about any of this? What about the money? Would I have to get all these ladies certified and licensed? That is even more money? I don't know anything about opening a hair and nail place? Will people think I am crazy? Will they try to tell me to think to do something else? Am I even cable of doing this? I must be completely stupid for even considering that I could do this. That was it – I decided to start praying for God to give me another idea for when I get home! (Which side note: if you have ever tried telling God what He should do, you know how that ends up!)
So that night we were asked to join a local church that was started by a church in Texas. Their pastor, associate pastor and music director from the States were in Cambodia for the week to check up on the church and to simply refresh and refill the missionaries on the field! We were so excited to be able to go to a "western" style church plus they didn't know who we were so we weren't going to ask to be to preach or sing or anything!
When the Pastor stood up he started off my asking the question, "What is your Passion?" – He went on by saying that God has given each one of us a VISION to further His kingdom, and that vision will become our passion for our life. I started thinking "What is my passion?" Has God given me a vision to further His Kingdom? He went on by saying that the vision that God gives you is YOUR vision! He has formed and created it for YOU to complete! No one else would be able to seek out this vision or put as much passion as you would! Plus when God has given you this vision, that is all you think about, it consumes your brain and you KNOW deep down that this is what God has planned for you! You may not know how it will work out or what you are going to do, but you have a peace that everything will work out in the end. You want to share it with everyone around you and it brings you so much joy and excitement when you think about it!
He went on by saying that each vision will have a REVISION! God is consistently teaching you knew things and you are growing in your walk with Christ! As you grow, your vision is going to grow! Your vision may and will look different at the end from when you started! The more God teaches you the better the outcome is going to be!
Next there is always going to be DIVISION. Satan does not like the idea that you will further God's Kingdom. There will be roadblocks around every corner; you will doubt if you are cable, people will tell you that you can't do it! But that is when you need to trust that God has it covered – because He gave you this vision. At this point, my mouth was open and my mind was going crazy! Had God revealed His vision for my life just this morning! Did He really want me to do something for the women in the sex industry? What about money and the fact that I know nothing about this!?
That is when God threw out another curve ball! The pastor said that the last piece of this is that God will always provide PROVISION! WHAT are you serious! Did the pastor really just say that! Did I say "what about the money?" out loud! He continued saying that just because we are Christians and are called to ministry doesn't mean we have to find a way to do it for free! It is okay to use the money that God has given us to further His Kingdom even more! Our money should be God's money anyway and He blesses some people with money so that they can help those who have these passions.
He shared a story with us about their church. They were having this huge gift giving to children who weren't getting Christmas gifts that year! They set their goal high because of the need and that they knew that God would provide somehow!? The night before the giving of gifts they were still a half a million dollars short! It seemed IMPOSSIBLE…the pastor was so discouraged that some of the kids would go without this year! As he was preaching and thanking everyone for giving, he felt his phone vibrate. He never answered his phone during church at all, but this time he felt like he had to see what the text message said! The text was from a lady who wasn't a member of their church and had only visited a few times. She wanted him to know that she felt God wanted her to send them a check for $500,000 for them to use however they need! She didn't know why but knew it would go for a good cause. God provided to the very penny!
By this time, I was a mess! Was this really happening to me! In less than 18 hours had God revealed what my future held! God was showing me a movie of my life as I was standing there as fountains of tears were streaming down my face. I saw myself in a coffee house that had a bakery inside. It was a place where women who are stuck in sex-trafficking can find a place where they will be loved and not judged! They will hear every day that Jesus desires to have a relationship with them and that He provides in ways they have never known. They will have a job that is safe and a way to provide for their families! It will be a place where they can continue their education. It will be a place where they can smile again and know that they are beautiful and adored!
As my brain was on a constant reel of this dream, the pastor called on our group of World Racers to stand up! He said people ask him: Who are his heroes? His reply shocked me. He said people think he would say some famous pastor or Christian singers or football players! But instead he said that his true heroes are US! People who give up everything they have and allow God's to use them to further His Kingdom. People who see the world without limits! People who love on the people that God sent Jesus to love on and save! People who shine the light of Jesus into the darkness!
I don't want to have any more limits on my life! God has shown me so many times on this trip that He is the God of the IMPOSSIBLE! He has provided in ways I could have never imagined and in ways that I will never understand. With Him entrusting me with this passion and vision I am once again putting my YES on the table and saying Okay God Lets Do This!!!!! This isn't my ministry but ALL YOURS!
I still have no idea how it is going to work out or when it will be open but I KNOW that one day I am going to have a Coffee House with a bakery inside! It will be a safe place for these women to work; it will be a place for people to get connected to other ministries around Colorado and the World. It will be a place you can come and do bible studies, hang out with friends, study, meet new people and just be you!
The one thing God did ask of me was that I wouldn't start looking and researching while I was on the race. I need to remember that I am on the race and still learning so much here. If I start focusing on this new adventure I am going to miss out on what He still needs to teach me! This has not been as hard as I thought! I am a planner and don't like to wait around. BUT I have found so much peace about this and I know that this is all God so I know He will open doors when it is needed! Each month, He has rewarded me with sweet blessings and reminders that this is REALLY going to happen! Being able to visit other business in the countries we are doing exactly what I am going to do, songs that are about sex-trafficking that touch my heart, verses reminding me that HE is in control, amazing support from team members and squad mates, friends emailing me news articles about Sex-trafficking and just this last month God revealed the name of the coffee house!!!
The name comes from the verse that has been on my heart for the whole race. (Luke 1:37). For NOTHING will be IMPOSSIBLE with God. God truly makes the impossible, POSSIBLE! HE has made it POSSIBLE for me to go on this 11 month trip. He made it POSSIBLE for me to hear Him on that day. HE made it POSSIBLE for me to hear that message in Cambodia from a Pastor from Texas. HE will make it POSSIBLE for these women to get out of this line of work! HE will make is POSSIBLE for me to open up POSSIBLE CAFE!!!
I want to make sure that as you are reading this very long blog that you know that I am not writing this to show off and throw this crazy idea that I got around like it doesn't matter! Just like I shared at the beginning is that I am taking this serious and I have prayed for many, many hours. This is truly God's plan! This has become my baby and it scares me that people will know about it! But God has asked me to step out boldly and to send out an invitation to all of you!
You are all invited to the GRAND OPENING of POSSIBLE CAFE! (The date is to be announced later keep your calendars open!)
To RSVP you just have to promise to pray for me! Pray that I am consistently praying and seeking God's advice in His plans for this! FIGHT for me as the enemy is going to attack me around every corner. Pray for these women who need to get out of this job and the lifestyle that tells them they are not worth it! FIGHT for these women who don't think they will ever be welcomed into society. Please keep me accountable in this journey! I really want Possible Cafe to be a place for people to get connected and find their own Passions and Visions! There won't ever be a Grand Opening if I am doing this on my own!
So there you go! It's crazy and sometimes I can't believe God has trusted me with this but I am so thankful! We do serve an amazing God who chooses to use His people!
I can't wait to see you all there!!!!
